For more than two weeks, eyes have been on the Vatican, awaiting news about Pope Francis’ health. The pope has been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14, 2025, being treated for double pneumonia and other complications.

The Vatican, though, made alternative plans for Ash Wednesday next week, making clear Francis still had a long road ahead. Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, a Vatican official and former vicar of Rome, will preside over the March 5 ceremony and procession that inaugurates the church’s solemn Lenten season leading up to Easter in April.

The Vatican has set in motion nightly prayers for Pope Francis in the hope that he might recover and get back to leading the Catholic Church.

Raffaella Petrini has been appointed as the first female President of the Vatican City State becoming the governor of the 44-hectare area.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis ... Francis, leader of the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb 14 with bronchitis, but it soon developed into ...

VATICAN CITY — Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square ... with many of the roughly 4,000 assembled understanding they may be in Rome for Francis’ final days. Crowds sat under umbrellas on folding chairs or stood by the vast colonnades ...

Although this is Francis' fourth stay at Rome's Gemelli hospital as pope ... to take on a role akin to being the governor of Vatican City. The pope had previously mentioned his plans and Raffaella ...

Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, LC, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State and president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday, March 1, marking his departure from these crucial Vatican positions.